Aerosol Chemistry: Trace gas analysis

Trace gas measurements in the marine boundary layer were obtained during the fifth trans-Atlantic AERosols and Ocean Science Expedition (AEROSE) in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean from July 17 to August 4, 2009.  In particular, ambient ozone (O₃), carbon monoxide (CO) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) were measured due to their roles in control of oxidizing efficiency and their potential interaction with aerosols transported across the Atlantic.  The concentrations for each gas were obtained via continuous measurements using individual gas analyzers.  UV, IR and fluorescence spectrometric detection methods were used for O₃, CO, and SO₂, respectively.  Preliminary analysis indicates that ambient concentrations of ozone tend to increase in biomass burning aerosol regimes with increasing aerosol loading.  However, in dusty regimes, ozone tends to decrease with increased aerosol loading. Additional observations indicate that O₃ has a stronger anti-correlation with SO₂ than a correlation with CO in both dusty and biomass burning air masses.